Good morning politicos, and welcome to the buzz.

Today is the big day for Rick Santorum. He’s in Somerset today to announce his presidential campaign. PoliticsPA got here last night, and checked in with a few Santorum staffers and organizers as they prepped for today’s event. We’ll be on the ground all morning covering Santorum’s announcement, so keep an eye on the site and follow us on Twitter.

Both parties met this weekend for state committee, and PoliticsPA was there (in body or spirit). Here’s our run down of what happened in those smoke filled rooms.

The GOP has one less 2012 candidate. Frank Ryan, the accountant and former congressional candidate in PA-17, announced on Friday that he will not seek a bid for Auditor General.

Meanwhile the Dems have one more – former Philly prosecutor Dan McCaffery told friends in an email that he will officially launch a bid for Attorney general. He even has campaign lit!

PoliticsPA Reports

Local Conservatives Pave the Way for Santorum Announcement
PoliticsPA checked in yesterday evening with a group of the Senator’s staffers and supporters as they prepped for today’s event at the Somerset County Courthouse.

State Committee Roundup
The buzz of insider politicking has died down and the committee members have returned home. Here’s what happened at State Committee this weekend.

Sen. Toomey Returns From CODEL In Israel
Senator Pat Toomey rounded out a three day trip to Israel this week during which he met with several high-profile Israeli officials, including PM Netanyahu.

NRCC Robocalls Target Critz (Again)
The NRCC calls will criticize the Congressman over attempts to raise the debt limit.. despite the fact that this week Critz voted against a bill to do so.

Dan McCaffery Tells Supporters He’ll Officially Launch AG Bid
Attorney and former Philadelphia prosecutor Dan McCaffery will officially launch his bid soon, he wrote in an email to supporters that was obtained by PoliticsPA.

Ryan Won’t Seek Auditor General
Frank Ryan, the conservative CPA who ran in PA-17 congressional primary last year, will not pursue a bid for PA Auditor General. His departure from the race leaves the GOP without an apparent candidate.

National
Los Angeles Times: Santorum’s bid may hinge on persuading people he can win
Politico: Rick Santorum: Social Conservatives Define the Country
Inquirer: MSNBC Giving Nutter A Soapbox for Schools
Roll Call: Senate tees up jobs debate amid bad economic news
Washington Post: Among GOP, anti-tax orthodoxy runs deep
Politico: Christopher Nixon Cox married

Statewide
Times Leader: Romanelli’s suit against Democrats dismissed
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Whispers
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Pennsylvania Dems Optimistic About Odds in ‘12
The Intelligencer: Auditor General: Pa. Wants Tobacco Money Used For Health, Prevention Programs Not The General Fund
Inquirer: Pa. Attorney General’s Race Is Off To A Crowded Start
Baer Growls: Sen. Leach Pranked?
Fox Philadelphia: LCB Wants Wine Kiosks At Walmart
The Intelligencer: Cawley: No Evidence Of Pollution From Fracking
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Proposes Tougher Regulations On Natural Gas Industry
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Toomey: Hamas puts U.S. aid at risk
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Seniors to benefit from P.A. tax on drillers
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Corbett’s proposed loan fund draws fire
Centre Daily: Corbett’s big agenda slows amid details, debate
Carlisle Sentinel: Will Pa. follow other GOP states on photo ID bill?
Carlisle Sentinel: Corbett administration kicks off Farmers Market Voucher program for older adults
York Daily News: Taxing power could also be trimmed for Pa. schools
PennLive.com: Gov. Tom Corbett’s spending leaves some wondering about his budget ‘sacrifice’ message

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Magazine: Ed Rendell: A Life Transformed
PhillyNow: Nutter Backtracks On Proposed Budget; 1 Point for Rizzo
Inquirer: Soft-drink Industry Has Given Heavily In Council Races
Inquirer: Pa. High Court Upholds Fraud Verdict On Judge Willis Berry
Inquirer: Deputy Mayor Faces Abortion Foes
Inquirer: Ackerman Left Nutter Out of the Loop On Kindergarten Spending
Fox Philadelphia: Would Keeping Bars Open Till 3AM Provide Enough Revenue for Philly Schools?
WHYY Newsworks: SEPTA, School District Hashing Out Transpass Agreement

Philly Suburbs
Delaware County Times: Local Politicians Not Opposed To Paying More For Their Health Care
The Intelligencer: Pitcairn Descendent Lobbies To Keep Willow Grove Airfield Open For Business
Inquirer: Report Could Jump-Start Route 422 Tolling Plan
Delaware County Times: Pennsylvania legislators have health-care coverage that most residents can only dream about
Bucks Local News: Gov. Corbett approves $2 million grant for Lower Makefield Township ball fields, community center

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Feds Say $292,000 is Monsour Scam Cash
Times Leader: Philosophical Differences Slow Down Pace of PA Governor’s Agenda
Tribune Review– Republican candidates court the God vote
Tribune Review– Pennsylvania Dems optimistic about odds in ’12
Tribune Review– Pileggi bill proposes senior property tax cuts with shale revenue
Tribune Review– Ravenstahl to start weekly addresses
Post-Gazette– Wagner rebuffs fellow Dems

Southwest
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Aggressive care to the end- who pays?
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Republican candidates court the God vote
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Social media full of perks, pit falls for politicians
Valley News Dispatch: (Westmoreland) Keystone Opportunity Zones called ‘a qualified success’
Pittsburgh Tribune Review: (Westmoreland) Agencies seek ways to help returning vets

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Stoffa taps councilman for fiscal post
Morning Call: Is Nazareth disbanding police force?
Morning Call: Lower Macungie zoning battle goes door-to-door
Morning Call: Forks amphitheater costs less than expected
Morning Call: No surprises in Lower Macungie audit
Reading Eagle: Wilson grads raise money for their community fund
WFMZ: Vet Reunited With Plane At World War II Weekend
Lehigh Valley Live: Easton Area School District considers providing in-house child care; other local districts favor it
Lehigh Valley Live: Easton City Council to hold first meeting on proposed Neighborhood Improvement District

NEPA
Citizens Voice: West Pittston Mayor Will Resign to Take Sttae Job
Citizens Voice: More Issues Exist Concerning Proposed Metering Station
Citizens Voice: Events Address Growth of Gangs
Citizens Voice: Timeline of Political Life, Corruption
Daily Review: Last Minute Campaign Urged to Restore Deep Cut to the Arts: Local Advocate Decries ‘ruinous’ state House Vote
Pocono Record: Senator Baker: Monroe Needs to be Heard in Redistricting
Pocono Record: Senator Blake: Fill Budget Cuts with New State Surplus
Pocono Record: Should Kids Be Banned From the Tanning Booth?
Times Leader: W. Pittston Mayor Sees a Statewide Opportunity
Standard Speaker: Officials to City Residents: Pitch In, Clean Up
Standard Speaker: Barletta Town Hall Taping OK
Standard Speaker: Carbon County Applies for State Gaming Funds

South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Newville to consider emergency notification system
Carlisle Sentinel: Coalition targets childhood obesity in Carlisle area
Carlisle Sentinel: Cumberland County lawyer appointed to Criminal Justice Act Panel
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle rezoning request denied  |
York Dispatch: Red Lion schools adopt budget with no tax increase
York Dispatch: Dems decide against probe into campaign flier in York City council race
Lancaster Era: Manheim Twp. opens new trail
Lebanon Daily News: Farm market vouchers available
Lebanon Daily News: County certifies election results

North by Northwest
Go Erie: Erie County Council wants new Pleasant Ridge union contract to include concessions
Centre Daily: Officials fear loss of local control
Courier Express: Borough adopts drilling ordinance
Tri County Courier Sunday: DuBois man remembers D-Day
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Flags missing from multiple veteran graves in Wildwood Cemetery
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Tourism benefiting from gas industry presence
Williamsport Sun Gazette: ‘Fair share’ tour hits city with belief in severance tax
Sun Gazette: Commissioners approve child care contract
The Daily Item – Sunbury: Design in works for Shikellamy State Park marina building

Opinion
Chris Freind, Philadelphia Magazine: Is Joe Sestak running for Congress again?
Wayne Independent Editorial: Our View: The freedom fight continues
Standard Speaker Editorial: Bills wrong way to shrink state’s Legislature
Young Philly Politics: It Is Time For A New Era For Education In Philadelphia
Standard Speaker Editorial: Advice to Hazleton: Don’t pencil in phantom revenue
Lehigh Valley Live: Lehigh Valley Live: New plan a baby step for Delaware River flood mitigation
Lehigh Valley Independent: Lehigh Valley Independent: No, LVEDC Is Not Ripping Off Taxpayers
Tri County Courier Sunday: Palin preens in Philadelphia
Morning Call: Rev. Dr. Dennis S. Ritter (executive director of Lutheran Congregational Services in Allentown): State budget plans offer false choices
Mary Pat Lynam, Delaware County Times:  Corbett has sheltered libraries from budget cuts Williamsport Sun Gazette: Williamsport Sun Gazette: Disciplined, on time, state budget nears OK
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Deputy Court Administrator Thomas B. Darr: Incomplete data
Carlisle Sentinel: Fight for your school district
Patriot News: A toxic mess: We don’t need Washington mudslinging here in Pennsylvania
York Distpatch: York Dispatch: Send surplus to schools
Post-Gazette: Cuts hurt kids: Lawmakers must do reality-based budgeting